2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Problems

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 90,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Ask the seller not to warm the car up, and start it cold. Listen for ticking, knocking or a rough idle in the first minute.
• Pull the oil dipstick and the oil cap. Low oil, a gasoline smell or a milky film on the cap are reasons to walk away or get an inspection.
• Plug in an OBD2 scanner. Stored or pending codes matter, and so do readiness monitors that show "not ready", which usually means the codes were cleared right before the sale.
• Ask for oil change records. A gap in the records on a model known for engine complaints is a negotiating point at minimum.

Tools that help

What owners said

Burning oil fast has been confirmed. I always go get frequently oil changes and top off Because it burns a lot. I never get a warning lamp When I go toc get my oil service representative tells me my oil is completely gone.Owner complaint, filed 2025

While I acknowledge that my vehicle is no longer under warranty, I remain extremely concerned about the excessive oil consumption issue. My vehicle is equipped with the Theta II engine, which has been the subject of multiple class action lawsuits and recalls due to serious engine defects, including excessive oil consumption and internal…Owner complaint, filed 2025

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 6,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for groaning, clicking or binding.
• On a straight road the car should track straight with the wheel centered and no loose feeling.
• A power steering warning on the dash, even briefly, deserves a mechanic’s look before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

car will drift under acceleration to the left really hard then go straight when let off the accelerator scary feeling and all suspension parts look ok no one can figure it out and is scaryOwner complaint, filed 2025

The contact owned a 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at about 35 MPH, The steering wheel was seized on a winding road; the steering warning light had also appeared on the instrument panel. The vehicle began to veer to the right direction as the contact forcefully steered the vehicle back to the left direction…Owner complaint, filed 2023

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 84,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
• The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
• Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.

Tools that help

What owners said

abs module making noise abs light turn on, parking brake stay on, traction light stay on, odometer does not work, speedometer does not work, steering effort decrease, car also stop all of sudden. Car need it to be tow to my house. I took it to dealership they recommended to replace abs module because of a short. I found a recall for ABS…Owner complaint, filed 2024

Hyundai Recall HY251, NHTSA 23V651000. The ABS Module is failing. This issue may cause the car to catch fire while driving or parked. I've taken the car to multiple dealers. The ABS light is on, the Traction Assist light is on, the Down Hill Assist light is on, and the Parking Brake light is on. The dealers are more than happy to provide…Owner complaint, filed 2024

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 60,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Test every switch: windows, locks, mirrors, seat heaters, the screen, the backup camera, Bluetooth and every USB port.
• Watch the dash at startup. Every warning light should come on briefly and then go out.
• Have the battery and charging system tested. A weak alternator or battery drain shows up here.

Tools that help

What owners said

Hyundai has not yet come up with a remedy. There is conflicting information about whether car is drivable considering fire can occur while in operation. I have read some information to suggest it can be driven until ABS warning light comes on however that information is not included in recall notice. Would NHTSA be able to confirm we can…Owner complaint, filed 2024

Issue # 1 - Door open light flashing on instrumental panel. I checked out the door and it was closed tightly. It continues to flash today (09/13/2023). During the end of April 2023, I could not lock my doors and the interior dome light stayed on. I was not aware of this and it drained my battery a couple of times in which my vehicle…Owner complaint, filed 2023

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 48,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Drive it from cold if you can. Shifts should be smooth in every gear, including reverse.
• Feel for slipping (revs rise without the car speeding up), shudder at low speed and a delay when you put it in gear.
• Listen for whining, which is a common CVT complaint, and clunks when you go from drive to reverse.
• If it has 4WD or AWD, engage it on the test drive and ask when the transmission and differential fluids were last changed.

Tools that help

What owners said

The component is the differential. Yes it is available The differential is leaking oil from the coupling assembly and makes noise while driving like a skip and when you turn to the left and in reverse. Because it helps with the braking time and lessened the risk of things such as vehicle rolling over on curves. I've had my car in for…Owner complaint, filed 2023

My vehicle was in the shop repairing a blown engine, which fell under recall 162. When the vehicle was taken in for repair, the only inoperable and/or probable issue was the engine. While being repaired, the dealership stated that rust on the input splines became loose and upon return to me, the vehicle would need a new transmission. If…Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 124,606 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 30,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Smell around the engine bay and under the rear of the car for raw fuel.
• On the test drive, accelerate firmly from a stop and up a grade. Stumbling, surging or a flashing check engine light are red flags.
• Fuel pump recalls are common. Check this exact VIN for open recalls before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

The fuel gauge isn't giving the correct readings. Twice my wife and kids were stranded on the highway because she was thinking she had 70/75 miles to go and get to a station. 1st time, she was driving home and it suddenly shuts off and 2nd time it shuts off at a traffic light. If it's reading 75 to 84 and you add gas, it stays on 75 to…Owner complaint, filed 2020

The contact owns a 2013 hyundai santa fe. The contact stated that after the vehicle was repaired per an unknown recall, it began leaking fuel and was unable to be driven. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to shaker's family hyundai (674 straits turnpike, watertown, ct 06795) to be repaired again.…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 74,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 23,000 miles. Parts named most: Sun / moon roof assembly (10).

What to check before you buy

• Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
• Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.

Tools that help

What owners said

2013 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS low beam very dim ( having to use High beams contentiously)dealership states can not find problem, checked wiring harness ohms out correctly(12 volts )have replaced bulbs many time manufactured recommended. have researched internet and Hyundai form many owners are having similar issues on other modals as well.…Owner complaint, filed 2022

2/10/20 my right low beam headlight keeps blowing out. We have replaced the light 3 times in less than a week. Our mechanic suggested that I report this problem to the NHTSA to see if there is a recall on this problem. My light is out again!!! This is a serious safety problem. Cannot see the right side of the road unless I use my high…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 57,254 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 25,000 miles. Parts named most: Body (20).

What to check before you buy

• Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
• Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
• Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.

Tools that help

What owners said

I was driving my car and my “open” door light came on out of nowhere. When I stopped I got out and closed my door the light turned off. When I was driving again the light came on and when I tried to open my door, it got stuck. I had someone try to open it from the outside and it sounded like it unlatched but wouldn’t open. Now I have to…Owner complaint, filed 2026

The left back door of the vehicle is not operational. This issue is causing significant concern, especially in potential emergency situations where access through this door may be crucial. It is imperative that this problem is addressed promptly to ensure the safety and functionality of the vehicle.Owner complaint, filed 2024

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 11,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Drive over a few bumps and potholes slowly with the radio off and listen for clunks or rattles.
• Check the tires for uneven wear on the inside or outside edges, a sign of alignment or suspension trouble.
• Look behind the wheels for oily, wet shocks or struts.

Tools that help

What owners said

Rear subframe is rotted out prematurely, other vins had this issue recalled but my vin was not included in the recall even though I have all the same issues as the vehicles that were recalledOwner complaint, filed 2025

We brought our vehicle into the dealer for a recall for undercoating on [XXX]. The work was completed by Tarbox Hyundai in north kingstown ri. We noticed our car started drifting to the right and our tire was out of align. We brought the car to our local mechanic and were told that the entire under carriage is rotting away and needs to…Owner complaint, filed 2024

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 12,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• On the test drive, press the gas gently and firmly. The response should be smooth with no lag or surge.
• Set the cruise control, then use resume and cancel to make sure each one works.

Tools that help

What owners said

When I engaged the Cruise Control it caused the vehicle RPM's to quickly jump from about 3 up to over 5 RPM's and the gear would slip not accelerating but slowed down in traffic.Owner complaint, filed 2022

The contact owns a 2013 hyundai santa fe. While driving various speeds with the accelerator pedal depressed, the vehicle failed to respond. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the failure could not be duplicated. The [VIN] was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 3,000. The VIN was…Owner complaint, filed 2016, at 3,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 30,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Read the four-digit DOT date on each tire. Tires older than about six years should be replaced, whatever the tread looks like.
• Check tread depth on all four. On AWD vehicles all four tires should match.
• The tire pressure light should go out after startup.

Tools that help

What owners said

Right sector was on recall but not the left. My left has since broken and ABS light is on plus 2 other lights. Car dealership wants 500.00 plus to fix it. Iff it rains or bad weather I willlnt have ABS.Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 69,000 miles

The contact owns a 2013 hyundai santa fe equipped with kumho solus kl21 tires, size: 235/55 r19 (na). The contact purchased four new tires from the kumho [VIN]. The contact indicated that the rear passenger side tire had cracks and tread separation. The tire was replaced by an independent tire repair facility. In addition, the front and…Owner complaint, filed 2018

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 8,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Pull out and latch every seat belt, and let each one retract on its own.
• Try every seat adjuster, and watch for a passenger air bag "off" light when an adult is in the seat.

Tools that help

What owners said

Upon exiting a parking lot at low speeds, the driver’s seat belt disengaged from the buckle. Despite multiple attempts to fasten the seat belt, it would not stay buckled throughout the drive, which was at speeds 40mph and below. Warning chimes sounded each time it unbuckled. It seems like a mechanical failure because the seat belt would…Owner complaint, filed 2023

Backseat passenger side seatbelt will not pull out far enough to buckle. Took to hyundai and told that there are teeth broken off in the roller part of seatbelt. It seems that this would be faulty parts for teeth to actually break off and now knowing this, are any of the other seatbelts at risk of being fully secure for protection. Would…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 25 miles

What to check before you buy

• Where it is safe, try the adaptive cruise and lane keeping on the test drive and watch for sudden braking or warnings with nothing there.
• Check the windshield in front of the camera and the bumper sensors for cracks, chips or poor repairs.
• Ask whether the windshield has been replaced. The camera has to be recalibrated afterward, and many shops skip it.

Tools that help

What owners said

My wife and I are the owners of a 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport VIN [XXX] . In September of 2023 we received a recall notice on this vehicle - NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 23V-651; HYUNDAI RECALL NUMBER 251 dated September 22, 2023. Since receiving this notice I have checked numerous times with our local dealership and online with Hyundai to see if…Owner complaint, filed 2024

The contact owns a 2013 hyundai santa fe. The contact stated that the back-up camera was inoperable. The vehicle was taken to oxmoor hyundai (8107 shelbyville rd, louisville, ky 40222, 502-894-3400) however, the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The [VIN] was not notified of the failure. The…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 60,000 miles

What to check before you buy

• The air bag (SRS) light should come on at startup and go out within a few seconds. If it stays on, the system may not work in a crash.
• Air bag recalls are some of the most serious. Check this exact VIN for open recalls and get proof any recall work was done.

Tools that help

What owners said

Three safety issues: 1st Steering column coupler went bad at 95k miles causing steering wheel to shake. Cost $1700 to repair. I was at risk for steering to lock up, which would have caused an accident and injury to myself and others on roadway. 2nd Airbag indicator light is currently on. Diagnostic scan shows steering wheel airbag is…Owner complaint, filed 2021

Have had a recurring issue with the airbag light illuminating. This has been ongoing since 2 years post purchase. Have had airbag replaced, multiple fuses, wiring harness replacement. All repairs end with the light returning. Am unsure of the reliability of the airbag in the event of a crash.Owner complaint, filed 2022